Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has urged the public to ignore any confusion and continue with plans to occupy Parliament. This call comes after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s appeal to the youth to call off the protests scheduled for Thursday, June 27, 2024, stating that their demands had already been met.
Despite Gachagua’s plea, online mobilization continued through Wednesday night, with some groups suggesting a march to the State House. By Thursday morning, leaders like Khalif Kairo and Hanifa Adan urged their peers to refrain from protesting.
However, Mwangi emphasized the importance of public turnout to show that the populace is not controlled by politicians, insisting that the demonstrations are crucial for making their voices heard.
“People coming out today is to remove the idea that politicians own us. It’s a demonstration that this moment belongs to us and it’s WE the People who tell the president what to do and not the other way around,” Mwangi posted on X.
Mwangi emphasized that calling off the demonstrations would render the sacrifices of those who died, were arrested, or abducted in vain.
Boniface Mwangi’s message
He urged people to occupy Parliament instead of State House, as some had threatened.
“Secondly, the state has used fear by killing people on Tuesday and there should be a clear signal that speaking up shouldn’t be this costly. Those who were abducted, maimed and killed would otherwise have done so in vain. Ignore those bringing confusion, and most importantly, telling you to Occupy State House. See you at Parliament. #OccupyParliament,” he added.
People coming out today is to remove the idea that politicians own us, it’s a demonstration that this moment belongs to us and it’s WE the People who tell the president what to do and not the other way round
Secondly, the state has used fear by killing people on Tuesday and… pic.twitter.com/1FieniC2SM
— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) June 27, 2024
On Wednesday, President William Ruto declined to sign the controversial Finance Bill 2024, citing the need to align with the popular mood of the majority of Kenyans.
Ruto stated that he would instead implement austerity measures to cut operational costs across all government organs.
The bill, which was passed on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, saw 195 members of Parliament voting in favour, 106 against, and three abstentions.
The bill was adopted with amendments, including the removal of the motor vehicle tax and VAT on bread and financial services while maintaining other taxes such as the Railway Development Levy at 2.5 percent on customs value and the import declaration fee at 3.5 percent.
This approval came amid protesters clashing with police outside Parliament and on Nairobi city streets, hoping the President would not sign it into law.
